Scientists Find Weed That Could Replace Medical Marijuana

Wait a minute, we haven't even harvested the first official, government-sanctioned, approved by the legislature, crop of medical marijuana in Louisiana and already science is saying they've found a replacement?

Full disclosure here, scientists haven't "just discovered" this plant. Like a lot of medicinal plants, it's been around for a while. Scientists are just now getting around to researching what native people and wildcrafters have known about for years.

Part of that benefit comes from a chemical compound contained in the plant that has very similar properties to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). That's the stuff in marijuana that makes you feel better or stupid or hungry or all of the above.

The difference is the perrotetinene found in liverwort does not produce the psychoactive high that has become synonymous with marijuana use. Scientists say this protein attaches easily to the brain's cannabinoid receptors and can actually stem the flow of pain signals. This could provide relief from inflammation and the pain associated with it.

So far these findings have only been researched in mice. But the results of testing so far has been encouraging. Regardless, don't expect medical marijuana or recreational marijuana use to fall as a result of this new information. Researchers say they are still many years away from bringing any kind of product created from liverwort to the general public.